Counselling/ Therapy Services

Counselling/Psychotherapy services

Counselling and psychotherapy are two entirely different terms. However, both are, fundamentally, the same thing. Both counsellors and psychotherapists focus on providing psychological service for people who are looking for support and help with different emotional issues that can manifest in personal problems, relationship issues, or certain psychological/physical condition. There is a serious debate about these two definitions. However, when it comes to the practical work, both of these professions implement the same knowledge and skills and employ similar ways of working with clients.

What is important to understand is that there are different therapeutic approaches. These have been developed over the last 150 years. One therapist may favour one approach while others might call themselves integrative or eclectic, meaning that they will draw on from different approaches according to clients’ needs and presenting issues. There is significant research showing that every approach is useful in a way and can be beneficial in the right situation. Generally speaking, psychological therapies fall into three main categories.

Psychodynamic approach

The psychodynamic approach has its roots in psychoanalytic theory. But, it has been significantly developed and modified during the twentieth century in Britain and in The United States. The contemporary psychoanalysis and psychodynamic approach focus on understanding where the client’s problems or symptoms originated. The therapist/counsellor helps the client become aware of how the past manifests in the present and what effects it has on everyday life. The significant part of modern psychodynamic therapy is based on the attachment theories and emphasises a relational way of working.

Attachment theories have become very popular and widely used recently as new research emerges. These approaches use empirically-based and neurobiological research to understand challenging, reliable andidentifiable ways of building the connection between parents and children. Professionals using attachment-based approaches aim to work with unconscious psychological and biological processes and promote the development of higher-level capacities. This approach to therapy is also particularly helpful for teaching parents ways to react that optimise children’s psychological development and improveparent-child relationship styles.

Humanistic approach

This approach aims to identify the individual’s blocks in areas such as: creativity, personal growth, and choice. Humanistic psychology focuses on how humans perceive themselves, how individuals experience themselves, and how that affects their ability for self-development, growth, self-direction, and responsibilities. This method attempts to build a safe and productive environment, where a non-judgmental approach is offered to the client. This enables the client to experience and accept more of who he/she is as a person, identify and reconnect with personal values and build a sense of self-worth.

A significant part of humanistic psychology is existential philosophy and, as a result, existential therapeutic approach. Existential therapy tends to focus on and explore the meaning of particular issues or situations. It is suitable for those wishing to increase their self-awareness and broaden their understanding and their perspective on the surrounding world. The main idea of existential therapy is that we are all responsible for our own lives, and that “We are what choices we made” (Sartre). Existential therapy is, generally, not concerned with the client's past. Instead, it emphasises the choices to be made in the present and future.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy ( CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a combination of cognitive and behavioural therapies. It tends to focus on the way you think (cognitive) and how you respond to these thoughts (behaviour). CBT focuses on the ‘here and now' rather than on the cause of the issue. CBT divides presenting issues into smaller parts. The consistence of these smaller parts can be described as: thoughts, emotions, physical feelings and actions. All of them are interrelated. Therefore, it is important to understand each of them separately in order to progress. CBT underpins the idea that individuals learn unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving over a long period of time. In order to achieve meaningful results, therapist and clients, together, are trying to identify problematic thoughts and how they affect feelings and behaviours. This manner of therapy is not only exploratory, but also involves significant actions from a client, like homework and experiments, that might help to change the problematic way of thinking.

The most highly developed therapy that springs from CBT is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Research shows very positive results using ACT with issues like: weight management, sleeping problems, and depression. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets its name from one of its core messages: Accept what is out of your personal control, and commit to action that improves and enriches your life. The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential leading to a rich, full and meaningful life. ACT (which is pronounced as the word 'act', not as the initials) does this by teaching you psychological skills to deal with your painful thoughts and feelings effectively, so that they have much less impact and influence over you. Also, ACT aims to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you, i. e., your values. Then, ACT uses that knowledge to guide, inspire, and motivate you to improve the quality of your life.

Psychological Issues

In therapy and counselling, we atArt of Thought provide psychological help for a variety of issues—both long standing and recent conditions. Some frequent issues are: depression, anxiety, relationship problems, anger issues, or sexual problems. Sometimes, a client may have multiple issues.

Our psychologists are qualified to work with the majority of psychological issues. However, it is important to seek a psychological assessment. There, a professional will help you to identify the issues and recommend the further actions. It is important to understand that psychologists do not provide medical diagnosis. Therefore, a referral to a psychiatrist can be made, if the client wishes a medical diagnosis.

Enquiries on 07984199395

or (020) 7247 6798

Art of Thought Psychological Practice, based in Shoreditch / Liverpool
Street Station

Art of Thought is a group of professional psychologists based in Shoreditch, close to Liverpool Street Station. We provide counselling, psychotherapy, executive and business coaching for individuals and organisations.